ON THE BEGINNINGS OF THE TRAVEL MOVEMENT IN PODHALE

Scientific Review of Physical Culture, volume 6, issue 3
ON THE BEGINNINGS OF THE TRAVEL MOVEMENT IN PODHALE
(1251-1911)
Wojciech CZARNYABCD, Iwona PEZDAN-ŚLIŻABCD, Stanisław ZABORNIAKABCD
Faculty of Physical Education, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
Keywords:
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Poland,
Podhale,
tourism,
tourist shelters
hostels.
Abstract:
The main article purpose is to underline tourism beginnings in
Podhale in years 1251 - 1911. This article is an analysis of available
source materials (including the press showing up in the interwar
period, and the information calendar by PZN), thank to which we
managed to merge the data on the construction and operation of 15
shelters in the Highlands. The narration starts with the information
about "Tatra Station" - the first hostel granting accommodation and
meals, established in 1874 in Zakopane and ends with a description
of the construction and operation of ski and tourist station of the
Krakow Branch of Tatra Society of Skiers at Kobakowa in Bukowina
Tatrzańska.
INTRODUCTION
The influx of settlers in the Podhale about the thirteenth century bears the marks of the
necessity of migration linked to the exploration of suitable sites for construction of residential
buildings, as well as cattle, sheep and agricultural production. The second phase of wandering
around Podhale is associated with the exploration of minerals and ores (such as: silver, gold
and iron), as well as reconnaissance. The basis for the development of the tourist movement
on Polish soil in Podhale, in addition to the indisputable natural values, have had the shelters
and hostels built and run by tourist organizations, including PTT, TTN, KTN, ZHP and PTK.
Records about the early settlements in Podhale date back to the first years of the
thirteenth century. There are also known the privileges of Prince Henry the Bearded granted
in 1234 and exercised from the transumpt in 1251 allowing Teodor Gryfic, palatine of
Cracow, to settle German (ie. Teutonic Silesian) colonists in the said area... …in silva circa
fluvios Ostrowsko, Dunaiecz et Dunaiecz niger, Rogoźnik, Lipietnicza, Słona, Ratainicha,
Nedelsc, Stradoma, quantum est de sylva ipsius, dantes eciam sil his pactis et his
condicionibus uti, quibus Theutonici Sleser ses in sylvis locati utuntur…1.
The record shows that the prince allowed locating the German settlers in the forests
along the rivers Ostrowsko, Dunajec and Czarny Dunajec, Rogoznik – right-hand tributary of
the Black Dunajec, Lepietnica – left-hand tributary of the Czarny Dunajec, as well as Słona,
Ratajnica, Niedzielsko and Stradomka in Beskid2. Gorce is the northern border of Podhale.
1
S. Radzikowski: Tatry i Podhale na początku XIX in. „Przegląd Zakopiański” 1907, Lud. T. III, p. 1897; W.
Matlakowski: Budownictwo ludowe na Podhalu, Kraków 1898; Kodeks Dyplomatyczny Małopolski, I 21; K.
Dobrowolski: Migracje wołoskie na ziemiach polskich, Lwów 1930; Z. Hołub-Pacewiczowa: Osadnictwo
pasterskie i wędrówki w Tatrach i na Podhalu, Kraków 1931; K. Dobrowolski: Najstarsze osadnictwo Podhala,
Lwów 1935; J. Rafacz: Dzieje i ustrój Podhala Nowotarskiego, Warszawa 1935; T. Zwoliński: Zakopane i
Podhale, Warszawa 1935; K. Przerwa-Tetmajer: Na Skalnym Podhalu, Warszawa 1951; Z. W. Paryscy:
Bukowina Tatrzańska, Warszawa 1952.
2
Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Warszawa 1975–1977, vol. IX. p.
684; Urkunden und erzählende Quellen zur deutschen Ostsiedlung im Mittelalter. Wissenschaftliche
Buchgesellschaft, 1970 part. 2. p. 316; K. R. Kötzschke: Quellensammlung zur deutschen Geschichte, 1902 vol.
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The landscape of Podhale is vast peat bogs and alluvial fans. Geographically Podhale is
divided into "Rocky Podhale", which extends from Brzegi and Bukovina as far as Zakopane,
Kościelisko and Witów and "Low Podhale", which stretches to the northern borders of the
region.
Map of tourist routes in Podhale, B. Brzezińska: Bukowina Tatrzańska, Warsaw 1954, p. 121.
Map of Zakopane and the surrounding area in 1937. Map from the collections of the WIG.
IX, p. 94; Lud. vol. 25–29, Nakładem Towarzystwa Ludoznawczego, 1926. p. 20; K. Tymieniecki, Z.
Wojciechowski: Roczniki historyczne 1960, vol. 26–28.
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Outstanding by their size villages in the Podhale before 1939 were the following: Białka
Tatrzańska, Biały Dunajec, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Chochołów, Czarny Dunajec, Czorsztyn,
Gronków, Kościelisko, Ludźmierz, Nowy Targ (the historical capital of Podhale), Poronin,
Raba Wyżna, Spytkowice, Szaflary, Witów and Zakopane3.
The beginnings of tourist exploration in the Podhale were started at the beginning of
the nineteenth century by Stanislaw Staszic, followed almost simultaneously by the geologist
Louis Zejszner4, poets, among others, Seweryn Goszczyński and Vincent Pol, physician Dr.
Titus Chałubiński, painter Stanislaw Witkiewicz, writer Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer,
musician Mieczysław Karłowicz and many others. Due to their visits villages in Podhale
became popular in the Polish society.
Zakopane 1891, The first villa on Krupówki, built in 1877 by Walery Eljasz, acquired in 1881 by Balbina
Zalewska from Warsaw, was burned in a fire in Zakopane on 21 January 1899, Fot. Walery Eljasz, illustration
from the publication „O dawnym Zakopanem”.
Tourist movement started to develop actively since the beginning of the twentieth
century. The spread of tourism in the Tatra Mountains was boosted after the formation in
1873 of the Tatra Society, whose activists engaged themselves in the infrastructure
development, especially in mountainous areas.
3
K. Dobrowolski: Z przeszłości Podhala, Kraków 1929; Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych
krajów słowiańskich, 1975–1977, vol. IX. p. 684; Urkunden und erzählende Quellen zur deutschen Ostsiedlung
im Mittelalter. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1970 part. 2, p. 316.
4
Prof. Ludwik Zejszner, born in 1805 in Warsaw. Ludwik Zejszner graduated from high school named after
Linde in Warsaw and then for two years studied at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Warsaw.
During his studies at UW he became friends with Romuald Hube, later senator of the Polish Kingdom. In 1824,
19-year-old Ludwik began his peregrinations in Germany, with a view to greater familiarity with the scientific
methods of studying the Earth - mineralogy, paleontology and geology. He studied in Berlin, where he got to
know one of the greatest naturalists of the nineteenth century, Alexander Humboldt (whose part of the first
volume of Kosmos, concerning geology, L. Zejszner many years later will translate into Polish). In 1825 L.
Zajszner moved to Göttingen, where he obtained a doctoral degree. L. Zejszner combined his university studies
with intensive practice of geology in the area - this way of doing scientific work will be peculiar for him till the
end of his career. He died tragically in Krakow in 1871; A. Chałubińska: Ludwik Zejszner jako geograf, Kosmos
1928, R. 53 nr 2–3, p. 245–286.
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Zakopane, hotel "Stamary" external view, stock NAC, Ref. 1-G-7000-9.
For the convenience of the increasing numbers of tourists arriving in Podhale there
began to emerge inns, taverns, shelters and tourist hostels in Zakopane, such as
„Kasyno Towarzystwa” in 1874 ; „Dworzec Tatrzański” in 1882, „Dom Wycieczkowy”
named after Bp J. Stolarczyk, hotels such as „Morskie Oko”, „Stamary”, „Skoczyska” and
„Turystyczny” of Józef Sieczka.
Zakopane, years 1890-1899, the first hotel in Zakopane "Pod Giewontem" (1875)., Fot. Archive of the Tatra
Museum.
Ski and tourist stations, among others, PTT of Lviv ACT, “Dom Akamicki” SN AZS
Krakow, as well as a shelter in the pension "Cieszynianka" belonging to Silesian Provincial
Tourism Commission; night shelters: Związku Pracy Obywatelskiej Kobiet, Związku
Polskich Nauczycieli Szkół Powszechnych in villa „Mołodów”, Towarzystwa Pomocy
Naukowych in the dormitory on Krupówki.
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Zakopane 1901. The first known view of Hotel "Staszeczkówka", postcard sent on July 11, 1901.
Hostels, ski stations and tourist accommodations in other locations, such as:
- in Bialka: Narciarsko-Turystyczna TKN belonging to R. Reptowska;
- in Bukowina: guesthouse „Łomnica” owned by Wiktoria i Józef Bigos; ski stadion of
Zakopane PTT branch in „Dom Ludowy”; ski station of the Krakow Branch of Tatra Skiers
Society at Kobakowa in Bukowina Tatrzańska.
- on Gubałówka: the first tavern and shelter by A. Stoch and Mary and John Piasecki;
ski and tourist station TKN at the inn owned by J. Łasak and hostel-restaurant opened on
December 20, 1938 on Gubałówka by the League for the Promotion of Tourism in the
framework of the investment before the FIS championship in 1939. (without sleeping);
- on Głodówka: family shelter "Bigosówka" and scout hostel ZHP - "Głodówka";
- in Jurgów, shelter of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Public Education,
and inns in other places.
Highlander cart for passenger transport, so called fasiąg, popular in Podhale and Tatra, B. Brzezińska: Bukowina
Tatrzańska, Warsaw 1954, p. 24.
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Visitors arriving in Zakopane and other places also benefited from the opening hotels.
The first was built in Zakopane in 1885 at Nowotarska Street for Romuald Kulig. It was the
first in the city and by the end of the nineteenth century the largest hotel in Zakopane. The
building had a few dozen of rooms and a restaurant. The first stop of a regular communication
route was opened near the hotel5. Due to the excellent health conditions that prevailed in the
area, Austrian authorities in 1886 granted this area the spa status.
PKP railway stadion in Chabówka, before 1914.
An important event, especially for the development of tourism in Zakopane and
Podhale, was building the railway line, which considerably increased the number of travelers
to the town. First, on 18 August 1899 a railway line from Chabówka to Nowy Targ6 was built.
The next stage of the railway route to Zakopane was finished on October 25, 18997.
1905. Giewont view from Skibówki in Zakopane, stock fotopolska.eu,
http://fotopolska.eu/321593,foto.html?o=u20160.
5
L. Świerz: Pamiętnik Towarzystwa Tatrzańskiego, 1885, p. 94; author of the "Diary ..." describes the
development of Zakopane, starting from 1873. In the description, among others, he mentioned construction in
1882 of the telegraph station. The station was a result of the efforts by the Tatra Society.
6
„Przegląd Zakopiański” of 18 August 1899.
7
Miedzy niebem i ziemią, „Sportowiec”, 1952 nr 30, pp. 14–15.
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A significant impact on the rise of tourism in Podhale was caused by the developing
winter sports. The first skiing competition conducted in 1907 began the development of
winter sports, and in the 20s of the twentieth century Zakopane hailed as the winter sports
capital. One of the first luxury hotels in Zakopane was murowaniec (brick and stone made)
"STAMAR" built according to the plans of the architect Eugeniusz Wesołowski in 190219048.
1895. Zakopane highlander furka / fasiąg waiting for tourists / lowlanders,
http://www.jacekptak.nazwa.pl/dawno.temu.w.zakopanem.html (access, 18.09.2014).
The first means of transport adapted to carry "guests" on the route Krakow - Zakopane
was unsprung highlander cart, called by tourists "furka" and the mountaineers called it
“fasiąg”. "Furka" had a chassis of the peasant cart with woven wicker sides, which in other
parts of Poland were called "pułkoszki".
Inside the "furka" between the sides were fastened two horizontal seats, the front one
without a back support for the carter and the other one, usually double, with backrest for
tourists. Behind the seat for tourists was a space for horse fodder and food supplies that
tourists had for the whole time of stay in Zakopane9.
8
J. Nyka: „Tatry Polskie”, Warszawa 1992, p. 41.
L. Długołęcka, M. Pinkwart: Zakopane – Przewodnik Historyczny, Warszawa 1988; J. Skowroński: Dawno
temu w Tatrach, Łódź 2003; J. Skowroński: Tatry międzywojenne, Łódź 2003; M. Pinkwart: Przedwojenne
Tatry, Zakopane i Podhale. Najpiękniejsze fotografie, Warszawa 2011; W. Mischke: Księga gór i budowli
Macieja Mischke, Polskie Towarzystwo Tatrzańskie, Kraków 2009; R. Malczewski: Pępek świata. Wspomnienia
z Zakopanego, Łomianki 2011; R. Dutkowej (ed.): Zakopane. 400 lat dziejów, Kraków 1991; W. Skupień: Tatry
i Podtatrze, Zakopane 2004; W. Piksa: Spojrzenie na Tatry poprzez wieki. Od pierwszych wzmianek do
Oświecenia, Kraków – Wrocław 1995; T. Zwijacz Kozica: Krok w przeszłość, krok w przyszłość. Kuźnice
wczoraj i dziś, Zakopane 2010; A. Liberak: Jak kupowano Zakopane, [in] Pamiętnik Polskiego Towarzystwa
Tatrzańskiego, t. 2, Kraków 1993; K. J. Szmidt: Komu i czemu winny służyć góry?, [in] Pamiętnik Polskiego
Towarzystwa Tatrzańskiego, Kraków 1995; A. Rutkowski: Zakopane. Historia miejscowości, www.sztetl.org.pl;
Krótko o Zakopanem i historii, www.kozica.pl (dostęp, 18.09.2014); Pomnik „Prometeusz Rozstrzelany”,
www.z-ne.pl, (dostęp, 18.09.2014); Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, www.nac.gov.pl; Polska na fotografii,
www.fotopolska.eu, (dostęp, 18.09.2014); Pasja i zauroczenie. Oficjalna strona Jacka Ptaka,
http://www.jacekptak.nazwa.pl/dawno.temu.w.zakopanem.html (dostęp, 18.09.2014).
9
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1895. On Koscieliska street a popular means of transport (fasiąg) in the sub-Tatra region,postcard from
picture by M. Eljasz , (postcard).
1901. Zakopane, fasiągi on Sunday by the Holy Family church, residents on Krupówki street, postcard from
1901.
The academic societies organizing tourist expeditions were caring chiefly about
securing their own shelter, which has always been a very important matter for academic
tourists. This resulted, in part, from severe and permanent - as it is usual with students - lack
of money on expensive hostels and pensions, and also from the desire to be in their own
company, under the terms of their own. The ancestors of the student hostels were two rooms
rented by the AKT in Zakopane. Since 1909 AKT for their members (and not only) ran their
own tourist house in rented premises, first in Kiry, and later in Zakopane. In 1911 the
academia appointed an official committee which was to raise funds to build their own shelters
in Zakopane, but World War I thwarted those plans.
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